Lydia Pleotis Howell, M.D.
Chair, Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine
Medical Director, Clinical Laboratories
Professor, Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine
To see if Lydia Pleotis Howell is accepting new patients, or for assistance finding a UC Davis doctor, please call 800-2-UCDAVIS (800-282-3284).
Specialties
Pathology - Anatomic
Pathology - Clinical
Cytopathology
Department
Locations and Contact
4400 V St.
Sacramento, CA 95817
Additional Numbers
Clinic Phone
Philosophy of Care
As medical director of the clinical laboratories, I consider every patient to be my patient. Laboratory testing is a common and necessary part of health care since tests are pivotal to determining health status and next steps. I want every patient to receive the same level of accurate, timely, high quality laboratory test results that I expect for my own family who also receive care here. I also believe that it is our role as an academic health center laboratory to support complex care that might not otherwise be available in our region, as well as provide the everyday services that keep our community healthy.
Clinical Interests
Dr. Howell's clinical interests as medical director focus on improving laboratory quality and efficiencies, including the adoption of new leading-edge technologies. As a cytopathologist, Dr. Howell enjoys providing diagnostic service through the evaluation of samples from minimially invasive sampling methods, including fine needle aspiration biopsies, brushings, washings, and fluids.
Research/Academic Interests
Dr. Howell's research interests have focused on factors influencing women's careers in biomedical science, and work-life balance. She also has a strong creative interest in health care delivery science and the role of new technologies, including artificial intelligence, and standardized guidelines and practices in improving efficiencies and accuracy in pathology and lab testing.
Division
Anatomic Pathology
Center/Program Affiliation
Undergraduate School
B.S.M., Northwestern University School of Medicine, Chicago IL 1979
Medical School
M.D., Northwestern University, Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago IL 1981
Residency
Anatomic and Clinical Pathology, Temple University, Philadelphia PA 1981-1985
Fellowship
Executive Leadership in Academic Medicine, Drexel University School of Medicine, Philadelphia PA 1998-1999
Fellowship
Cytopathology, Lankenau Hospital, Jefferson Medical College, Philadelphia PA 1985-1986
President, Association of Pathology Chairs, 2020, 2021, 2022
Papanicolaou Award, highest honor of the American Society of Cytopathology, 2017
Dean’s Award for Inclusion Excellence (research team award), UC Davis Health, 2017
Dean’s Award for Excellence in Departmental Mentoring, UC Davis Health, 2016, 2017
AAMC Group on Women in Medicine Award as co-founder of UCD’s Women in Medicine and Health Science Program, 2016
To view a detailed list of Dr. Howell's publications, please click here.
Lipscomb MF, Bailey DN, Howell LP, Johnson R, Joste N, Leonard DGB, Markwood P, Pinn VW, Powell D, Thornburg M, Zander DS. Women in Academic Pathology: Pathways to Department Chair. Acad Pathol. 2021 Apr 28;8:23742895211010322. doi:10.1177/23742895211010322. PMID:35155746.
Howell LP, Wahl S, Ryan J, Gandour-Edwards R, Green R. Educational and Career Development Outcomes Among Undergraduate Summer Research Interns: A Pipeline for Pathology, Laboratory Medicine, and Biomedical Science. Acad Pathol. 2019 Dec 13;6:2374289519893105. doi:10.1177/2374289519893105. PMID:31858021.
Rashidi HH, Tran NK, Betts EV, Howell LP, Green R. Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning in Pathology: The Present Landscape of Supervised Methods. Acad Pathol. 2019 Sep 3;6:2374289519873088. doi:10.1177/2374289519873088. PMID:31523704.
Howell LP, Markwood PS, Zander DS. The Association of Pathology Chairs' Pathology Leadership Academy: Experience From the First 2 Years. Acad Pathol. 2019 Feb 11;6:2374289519826309. doi:10.1177/2374289519826309. PMID:30793023.
Howell LP. Papanicolaou Address: Why the next generation should take this journey and overcome constraint. J Am Soc Cytopathol. 2018 Jul-Aug;7(4):205-211. doi:10.1016/j.jasc.2018.03.003. Epub 2018 Apr 5. PMID:31043278.
Shauman K, Howell LP, Paterniti DA, Beckett LA, Villablanca AC. Barriers to Career Flexibility in Academic Medicine: A Qualitative Analysis of Reasons for the Underutilization of Family-Friendly Policies, and Implications for Institutional Change and Department Chair Leadership. Acad Med. 2018 Feb;93(2):246-255. doi:10.1097/ACM.0000000000001877. PMID:28834844.
Howell LP, Beckett LA, Villablanca AC. Ideal Worker and Academic Professional Identity: Perspectives from a Career Flexibility Educational Intervention. Am J Med. 2017 Sep;130(9):1117-1125. doi:10.1016/j.amjmed.2017.06.002. Epub 2017 Jun 15. PMID:28625409.
Villablanca AC, Li Y, Beckett LA, Howell LP. Evaluating a Medical School's Climate for Women's Success: Outcomes for Faculty Recruitment, Retention, and Promotion. J Womens Health (Larchmt). 2017 May;26(5):530-539. doi:10.1089/jwh.2016.6018. Epub 2017 Feb 7. PMID:28170291.
Miller KM, Ha DF, Chan RK, Andersen SW, Howell LP. Impact of a student-led community education program to promote Pap test screening among Asian-American women. J Am Soc Cytopathol. 2017 Jul-Aug;6(4):145-154. doi:10.1016/j.jasc.2017.03.004. Epub 2017 Apr 5. PMID:31043267